Motor-vehicle.



J. M. LANSDEN MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION man APR. 16, 1909.

Patented AJuly 20, 1915l `Witn esses J. M. LANSDEN, JR. MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLlcATroN man APR.16.1909.

Patented .uly 20, 1915.

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1.M.LANSDEN,JR.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLlcATmN FILED APR.16.1909.

Patented July 20, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Attorncyi.

. lrfzventfor Witnesses 1. M` LANSDEN,1II.'

MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. I9o9.

Patented July 20, 1915.

A/Inventor a( .L s f@ JI?.

y1/If 1x Ol Attorneys.

I JOHN. M. LANSDENJR... on NEWARK, Nnw JEnsnY.

Moron-vnmonn.

To all/whom 'it ma concern.'

, Bev it known t at'I, JOHNM. LeNsDEN,

' Jr., a'citizen'of the UnitedStates, and a' `resident of the city of Newark, county of Essex, Vvented anew and useful Motor-Vehicle, of

'which :the following is a specification.

The object I have in view is the vprodu@ and State of New Jersey, have in- 'tion -of a'inotor vehicle, whichi'shall always be 'evenly supported uponfour points irrespective of the character of the ground.

Further objects are to produce a motor -l vehicle vwhich may be easily and readily strong nd which when used for trucking l .maneuvered and capalde of turning about@ a Ashort radius.

vehicle whichfwll 4be simple, immensely1 These .andl further obJects forth in following specification and accompanying drawings, consideredtogether. or

' *illustrated invtheaccompanying drawings,

f in which-l 1 'Figure l is .a plan view ofthe chassis,

separately.y

-I attain these objects by the mechanism F ig. 2 is front viefw of the`-truck, Fig. 3

is'asec'tional view on the line 3-.3 of Fig. l., Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing the position of thev frame whenY encountering obstacles, Fig.- 5' is a side elevation ofy a modification showing a four wheel sprilg truck.; of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the por"- ig. Gis va section on the line 13e- \3 tion of a chassis embodying a modified-form i ,ofthe invention the. platformbeingshown in dottedvlines; and Fig-8 isV anelevation of the same with the near wheel removed.

' In all the views, like .p'rts are 'designated by the same referenceclxaracters.

The embodiment'i illustrated'. represents various forms of anjelectrically propelled motor -vehicle,`but it isapparent that the. -v propelling 1 means, shown in the illustrations, form no part of my present invention vand that/the motor 'vehicle may have an op- '.Figs ,1, 3 and 4'. This truck is -shown as f "eratingengine working on the linternal or of my4 invention .are applicable to a vvehicle j 1n which no motor isf" used, such being pulled y 10, 11,' 12 and 13, producing a rectangular externalcombstin p'rmciple.' Some parts or pushed by outside power. f

I will vfirst,describe my'l invention in oo nnectlon with the embodiment illustrated in produce a 4motor I will hereinafter refer to as therear secpurposes can be made very low.

will appear from the 'embodiments of my invention set section respectively.

lSpecication of YLetters Patent. Patented J 1115120, w19/15.. Application fued nprn 16, 190e.- serial No.49o,425.

having' four wheels. ,'llhe two driving Awheels 1-l are carried upon a shaft 2, and in 'the veinbodiment'illustrated, rotate' thereon.- The two steering wheels 3-'3 are'arranged one at each end of the chassis and are mounted inv f orks, 4;-4 which turn in vertical 'beari `ings carried by the chassis. The forks are turned inv the bearings so as toeifeet the steering. I prefer to -turn the forks'inthe -bearings simultaneously in opposite directions for the purpose-of. effecting the steering by means which will be subsequently'de'- scribed in-this specification.

The platform is madeln a's the front section, and a section 6, which two sections, a,

section 5, which I willhereinafter refer to f tion. These sections '-of the plat-form are carried upon corresponding chassis sections 7 and 8, which I will hereinafter refer to as the front Achassissectlon'and the rear chassis form are pivotedtogether on ahorizontal The two c hassis s ec,-` ptions with their lrespective sections of platis coincident with the shaft-or aide 2. This arrangement 'of the chassis in two parts dudes a structure which will run over any inequalities in the road. This is illustrated.

in Fig. 4. If thedriving wheels 1-1 strike an'obstruction in the formof angelevati'on,v

as shown in full lines of Fig. 4, lthe chassis will be buckled up in the middle, as in the position illustrated. -If thevsupporting- 'pivoted together on a'horizontal axis, p rosteering wheels should strike obstructions in the form of-elevations. or depressions. In

other words, whatever theirregularity of the-ground maybe on-which the truck is .loc

traveling', the chassis will bend to' compensate for'these irregularities andv all four of the /wvheels will be 'sup-ported on the ground.

The support of the chassis upon the -driv- -ing wheels' is secured by the following *.me'ans: Referring to Fig. 1, it is seen that the front chassis section is formed of parallel side members l-Q" and crossmembers An additionall cross niember 14 isafrranged intermediate the 'cross members 12 and 13" and forms one support' for theirnotor 153 the other support is .formedvby meaiis of vthe cross member 13.- An additional 4cross member 16 connects the parallel side members 9a 9 ata point .adjacent to theirends.

The cross member 13 ofthe front'seetion is some distance from the rear of that section and the parallell sidemembers oftliissection being separated to a suflieient eXtent an opening isformed thereby in which' the rear chassis section lies, as shownin Fig. 1; To state the {inatter in different words, the

parallel side `members of 'the two sectionsY overlap, and this overlapping occurs immediately above the shaft 2. v Referring' to Fig. 2. the parallel side ineii bers 9 carry'dependingr brackets 17 with rangement, veaeli sectionof the chassis heldin relation to the shaft by means ofthe en tial shaft 23. a

bearings 'carried by the'rear chassis section 8. A chain 24 connects the sprocket pinion bearings in theirv lower ends througl'i' which the shaft 2 passes. The parallel side inemf -bers 9a.' 9 of the rear chassis section carry depending braekets'lS also with bearings in their lower extremities through which the' shaft 2 passes. These two brackets lie side bv. side, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arilepending hrai'ikets, andthe two sections of the chassis'are thus tied together in such a manner that'the two sections can oscillate or' change their relative-positions to satisfy amY inequalities in the ground.

For the purpose of closing up the interral between the adjacent or abutting' ends' et' the two platform sections.V onel is provided with a plate 19 which extends across the Width et the platform` and is hinged to one platform section and rests on the edge otY the other platform section. The width oi the plate measured in the direction-of the longitudinal axis of the car is sufficiently great so that it will always eo'i'er the gap between the tivo sections'ivlicn the platform is distorted to the maximum extent by the elevation of its center. Any suitable means may be used'for driving the wheels 1- 1: that illustrated comnrisingz' side chains 20-420- which engage i with sprockets 21 onthe driving Wheels 1 4,

and with sprocket pinions22 o n the differ` Thissliaft is mounted in on the motor 15 to a sprocket wheel 25 connected to .the differential shaft 23.' The i usual'difi'erential is-prov-ided en this shaft and the chains 2() are adjusted for wear-'by sliding the bearing` boxes of the differential shaft 23 by means of turn-buckles 26 on the spaeiiio' rods. The chain-24 may be'adjusted for Wear hv moving the motor in its sunports in anv Wellknown manner.

i By this system ot driving, the distortions of the chassis. owingr to inequalities of the ground as described, will not affect the driving mechanism, but-such mechanism wlll Work equally well in` any situation Where the4 ground is notiexactly'level.

vFoi-the purpose of steering the vehicle,

I provide means for simultaneously turning the two steering Wheels in opposite directions to equal extent. I also prefer-ably arof the platform so that the device will run equally well ineither direction. The steering,7 mechanism comprises an'airangement of v'chains and sprocket wheels, the sprocket wheels being'on the steeringl forks 4--Lt and the chains ,pass around'these sprocket wheels and' are connected by wire ropes orl similar devices, 'such ropes being; crossed at soiiie point so'that 'the two .wheels willfturn in synchronisn'i,'but in oppositev directions;

'A 'hand-Wheel steering. shaft with a sprocket .pinionis provided at each end of Vthecarand theliight of the chain passes varound the pinion. l'iitherot' these pinions may be actuated by means ot4 a single steen ine shaft and whceh which I prefer' to make interchangeable'and use it at either end of the cai-,depending on the direction of travelof the latter.

Tlie'details of the mechanism. are as follows z- A' 'sprocket Wheel 2'?, vis secured to the fork4-4 of each steering wheel. The

'means for adjustment forwear in the chains.

It is apparent that on rotating the shaft 37 by means of a hand-steering wheel 33, the lead-ing wheel 3 will be turned in one direction and the trailingv wheel 3 to the saine extent in the opposite direction, thus pivoting the car' around its central support, z'. e. the i supporting wheels 1 1.

It `will 'be' apparent that if the wire ropes 31 extended. across the chassisi immediately under the platform .in the same horizontal plane as the chains 30-30, the ropes would become unduly slack upon fiexing of the platform caused bythe sinkin of the driving wheels Vbelow the level o fthe steering wheels'and would be'stretched and broken 'upon the flexing of the chassis caused by the driving wheels being elevated above the level o he steering wheels. I overcome this difficulty by looping the Wire ropes around" apoint coincident with the center of pivot '13o `oit" the two sections ofthe chassis. This close to the axle 2 as possible, so that the mechanism' is best shown. iii'Figs. 1V andf.'

I provide two pulleys 34-34 carried bearings supported in braclzets on the cross piece 16 of the rear chassis section.1' lhe tWO, sections of the wire rope leading from the ends of the chain'run over these two ull'eys and passunder two other pulleys 5-435', carried in brackets below the 'cross piece 16. The-periphery of the pulleys .B5-#35 is as Wire rope will be looped around a point as close to the center of the pivot of the two chassis sections as possible. The two wire rope sections then pass over the pulleys 36-36 whichare carried in bearings securedl to the cross member 13A of the front chassis section. It will be noted that the Wires cross each other three times. As ,shown in Fig. 1,- the first time from the -rearof the car to the front, it is for the purpose' of i leading properlynto the pulleys 3i- '34 and will have no materia effect "/upon the .ten-y' sion y'ofvsuch wires, but they/will remain in substantially uniform tension under all conditions. f

In connection with the mechanism already described I provide a means whreby the vehicle may becontrolled from'` either` end, such means comprising av hand-steeringy wheel and an electric controlling'gear. It is. desirable that the controlling and steer-` ing mechanism be shiftable from one end of the vehicle to the other so that` which,l becomes the rear end will be unobstructed and nothing exposed toy be accidentally broken or tampered with.

The hand steering wheel 33 is carried on a shaft 37 which may engage a clutch member carried by either of the shafts 45-45 which project upward from the controller boxes 42.

IIfor the purpose of closing the opening in the plat orm when the controllerfhandle and hand steering wheel are removed, I provide a hinged plate 52.

Figs, 5 and 6 are modifications in which the chassis is supported on wheels by means of springs.

The steering wheel boxes lie in slots in the forks and the chassis is supported by spiral springs 61. The pivot of the two chassis parts is at 62.. The chassis is connected to the main shaft 2 by means of as et of spiral springs 63, such springs lying on each" side of a bracket 64 carried by the main 'Shaft 2. Both Asets of springs are carried by the same chassis part, in the. illustration, such part being the rear part.

In order to properly brace the chassisv also serve topresist stresses caused by the` driving chains.A To resist stresses. in the side direction, I provide a link 66, one end being pivoted to the axle 2, A the other on a bracket 67 depending from the chassis. The ends of the link are `1n ball and-socket joints.

so as to allow for small-movements of the 'axle longitudinallyof the truck.

r,lhe switches 73 and- 74 as shownin Fig.

,1, are located Vin certain electrical circuits ofA the-truck, but since the electrical equipment 'forms'no part ofv'myvinvention it need not" be herein described.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown an arrangement,

,in which' springs may be employedlwith the axle boxes of the center wheels, said boxes being arranged to slide in pedestal'guides. Thls arrangement does ,away with either the cross links 66 o r the horizontal distance bar 65. v The pedestal guide83, as shown in Fig. 8,

means of an armor li 84. The axle 2 is carried in a box 85, which slides in the pedestal guide, the weightof lthe center of the vehicle being sustained by the s rings 86 located between the box 8 5 and tlie topy of the guide.

' The two` getherat the.` point 87 which vis close to the frame sections are'pivoted; to-

top of the platform instead of'beingcoinct/ dent with the center ofthe axle 2, as inthe other embodiments of the invention. 'The pivot 87, as shown, -is'in 'the form of a' tube,

and is parallel with the axle 2, but above the same. The ends of the-tube 87 lie in -supports or bearings'88 inthe pedestal guide 83. Other'bearings 89 are'carried by the rear frame section 6.' 4By this arrangement,

the pivot point .being close to`.the surface-v of the `veh1cle, Ithe gap or opening between the two parts may be of les's width than in- 'the other embodiments de'scribedl;1 and also when the parts are in the distort .shown in full 'lines4 in 1F ig. 4, he gap or space will be of less width than inthe. struc- `d position tures previously described.

I show in'Fig. 7 ,a mo ied fo m of "steering device, which, in lieuof wires, utilizes rods 90. Thesej rods are connected to the chain already described, and cross. in' -the center, so as t secure theproper reverse motion of the steering wheels. An opening ofv suie'ient width is formed in the tube 87,

so that rods can pass through such tube. This avoids the necessity of the pulleys, al-

y ready described in connection with the preceding embodiments.

lVhile l 4have shown in all of the illus-v trated ex'nbodiments of the invention. two

center wheels, it is apparent that any number of Vwheels may be chosen from one up,

' the necessary'stability being secured `by the 'to have it understood lthat the apparatus shown merely illustrative and that the inventioncan be carried out in other ways.

Having new described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

` 1. A vehicle having a frame," made in two Y sections, connected together by a'. horizontal pivot, one section overlappingthe other, an

' axle below the pivot, and springs connecting the. axle `and that frame which overlaps.

2. A vehicle having a two section horizontally hinged frame, with supporting Wheels for the hinged portion, steering wheels at each end and connecting means for the two steering wheels for turning them in syn chronisin, the said connecting means having compensating mechanism whereby a uniform tension will be had on the/connecting means, irrespective of the non-horizontal alineinent'of the frame.

3. A vehicle having a two section frame, secured together by a horizontal pivot exi tending crosswise of the frame, the two sections being normally in alinement, and a supporting axle below the pivot.

t. A vehicle having a, two section frame,

connected together by a horizontal pivot,

pedestal guides depending from one section of the frame, and wheels below the pivot supporting such guides.

5. A vehicle having center wheels and a two section frame, connected together with a 'horizontal pivot, pedestal guides depending from the frame sections below the pivot, and engaging with the wheels, the pivot being ya horizontal tube, to which the two sections are pivotally connected.

This specification signed and witnessed this tenth day of March, 1909.

JOHN ,M1LLIKnN, G. S. FREEMAN. 

